Battle's Over concert at Bromsgrove's Artrix was the perfect way to bring the curtain down on the Armistice centenary - The Bromsgrove Standard

Battle's Over concert at Bromsgrove's Artrix was the perfect way to bring the curtain down on the Armistice centenary

Bromsgrove Editorial 12th Nov, 2018 Updated: 13th Nov, 2018   0

BROMSGROVE had its very own fantastic Festival of Remembrance on Sunday, thanks to Jules Evans, Leigh Blakeman and a host of talented artists from throughout the district.

The Battle’s Over concert was the perfect way to bring the curtain down on the day which included a piper playing at 6am, the Remembrance parade and service and the lighting of a beacon at St John’s Church to mark the Armistice centenary.

The event epitomised ‘variety’ – it had everything.

It began with Bromsgrove Folk Club’s resident band Fairfield. They’re harmonies on their four songs were pitch-perfect and the set ranged from the sombre Only Remembered to Jez Lowe’s humorous ‘The Wrong Bus’.




Bromsgrove Royal British Legion youth member Aaliyah Harris and South Bromsgrove High School’s Aidan Fowkes-Blakeman read two poignant poems before Chadsgrove School Choir took centre stage.

From the opening verses of their first song, I was welling up. They looked like they loved every minute of being on stage and would have been welcome to perform for the rest of the night.


Next up, Vintage Class performed a selection of First World War songs you could not help foot-tap, hand-clap and wave your flag along to.

The first half was brought to a poignant conclusion when Kevin Ward read the Armistice declaration and darkness fell over the stage, leaving just four tealight candles flickering at the front.

There was plenty more flag-waving during the second half, especially during the amazing Catherine Tabberner’s rousing rendition of Rule Britannia.

Stop Press: Catherine Tabberner exceeds permitted decibel levels in Bromsgrove theatre.

Posted by Rob Tabberner on Monday, 12 November 2018

Kevin Ward’s Land of Hope and Glory also got the crowd going. So much so they called for it to be performed again and he duly obliged. The pair were ably assisted by brilliant Blackwell Concert Band.

The Drum Head demonstration with piper Paddy McGowan, Royal British Legion Chairman Patrick Smith and the Bromsgrove Army Cadets was moving, especially when thousands of red poppies fell from above during the two-minute silence.

Vintage Class closed the show with a collection of classics, including The White Cliffs of Dover and We’ll Meet Again.

Bringing the curtain down on the Battle's Over community commemorative concert and a whole day of Remembrance and marking the centenary of Armistice Day.

Posted by Bromsgrove Standard on Sunday, 11 November 2018

We broadcast some of the show on Facebook Live. I wish we had shown the whole evening so all of Bromsgrove could have enjoyed what was the perfect way to commemorate what was surely the most important date in the in the 2018 calendar.

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